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BU to play for crown

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- After breezing through the regular season unbeaten, Minnesota has needed overtime to win its first two games in the NCAA women's hockey tournament.

Women's hockey

The Gophers even, for the first time this season, trailed at the beginning of the third period in the semifinals Friday against Boston College.

But they only need one more victory to become the first team in the sport to finish with a perfect record. They play Boston University Sunday for the title, taking a 48-game winning streak onto their home ice at Ridder Arena.

"I'm not a big Herb Brooks-speech-kind-of-guy, but our players know what's at stake," Minnesota coach Brad Frost said. "I'm hoping they'll play a little more free than they have the last couple of weekends, or at least start a little quicker than we have the last couple of weekends. Like I said last night, when our team is pushed, they push back and seem to find a way. Hopefully, we can do that again."

The Gophers (40-0) beat Western Collegiate Hockey Association rival North Dakota in double overtime in the quarterfinals. Boston University (28-5-3) beat Mercyhurst to advance and face the defending champions.

"I think there's more pressure on the team that's 40-0," said Terriers coach Brian Durocher, whose team has won 10 straight games. "They've set the bar so high, and they've put themselves in a position where there's a lot of pressure.

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There might have been somebody along the way who might have said, 'If we just dropped one the first week of February, it might take the pressure off,' but they haven't."

Minnesota junior forward Amanda Kessel -- Toronto Maple Leafs star Phil Kessel's sister -- was selected the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner Saturday. All three finalists for the honor, given to the top player in the sport, were Gophers.

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